Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) began their Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2026 campaign with a thrilling win against Mumbai Indians (MI) at Dr. DY Patil Sports Academy on Friday. RCB secured a dramatic three-wicket victory, thanks to an outstanding all-round performance by Nadine de Klerk.
Mumbai Indians Set a Competitive Target
Opting to bat first after losing the toss, Mumbai Indians posted a total of 154 runs for the loss of six wickets. The opening pair of Amelia Kerr and G Kamalini provided a steady start, adding 21 runs in the first 5 overs. However, early wickets saw Kerr depart for 4 and Nat Saiver-Brunt also dismissed cheaply at 4 runs, leaving Mumbai at 35 for 2.
Captain Harmanpreet Kaur then combined with Kamalini for a crucial 28-run partnership, pushing the score to 63. Kamalini contributed 32 runs before getting out, while Kaur added 20. At 67 for 4, the momentum shifted as Sajivan Sajna and Nicola Carey put together 82 runs off 49 balls for the fifth wicket. Carey scored 40 runs from 29 balls, and Sajna remained unbeaten on 45 runs off 25 deliveries, including one six and seven fours.
From the RCB bowling side, Nadine de Klerk was the standout, taking four wickets. Lauren Bell and Shreyanka Patil chipped in with one wicket each.
Nadine de Klerk’s Heroics Seal the Win
Chasing 155, RCB got a promising start with Smriti Mandhana and Grace Harris putting up 40 runs for the opening wicket in 3.5 overs. Mandhana scored 18 before getting out, and by the time five wickets had fallen, RCB’s score was 65.
De Klerk then formed a vital 52-run partnership with Arundhati Reddy for the sixth wicket, keeping RCB in the hunt. Reddy contributed 20 runs from 25 balls. After Reddy’s dismissal, de Klerk took charge alongside Prema Rawat, forging an unbeaten 36-run stand off 18 balls for the eighth wicket.
In a nail-biting finish, de Klerk hit 6, 4, 6, and 4 runs off the last four balls to guide RCB to a thrilling victory. She remained unbeaten on 63 runs from 44 balls, striking two sixes and seven fours.
Bowling Contributions and Match Summary
From Mumbai Indians, Nicola Carey and Amelia Kerr took two wickets each, while Saiver-Brunt, Shabnim Ismail, and Amanjot Kaur claimed one wicket apiece. The match highlighted impressive individual performances and a closely fought contest, setting an exciting tone for the rest of the WPL season.
RCB’s victory over Mumbai Indians demonstrates their strong all-round capabilities as they kick off their campaign on a high note.
My name is Ganpat Singh Choughan. I am an experienced content writer with 7 years of expertise in the field. Currently, I contribute to Daily Kiran, creating engaging and informative content across a variety of categories including technology, health, travel, education, and automobiles. My goal is to deliver accurate, insightful, and captivating information through my words to help readers stay informed and empowered.
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